Hearing the word "cloud", many suggest that we are talking about a product of condensation of water vapor, moving through the vault of heaven. But the phrase "cloud technology in education" is associated not with natural phenomena, but with the use of computer technology.
The essence of cloud technology
They became possible after the powerful development of hardware. Every day there is an increase in the power of computer processors, a modernization of the multi-core architecture, an increase in the volume of the hard drive. In addition, Internet channels are becoming faster and wider.
Cloud technologies in education are a set of software and hardware, thanks to which the processing and execution of customer applications is ensured.
Applications for modern cloud technology
For example, if you donât want to carry a disk drive with you all the time, you can put the information you need in an âelectronic cloudâ. If necessary, you can easily find in the virtual storage those pictures or files that you need. Such an application of cloud technologies in education is only gaining momentum. The reason for this slow implementation is that not all teachers can use the Internet capabilities to the full extent. Currently, many users have already appreciated the ability to remotely store their files in such virtual storages. Their number is constantly increasing, so you can choose exactly the storage that you like the most, will be more convenient to use, accessible for use.
The use of "clouds" in the learning process of students
Cloud technologies in education are a new paradigm, which involves the distribution, remote processing, storage of certain information. Their essence lies in the lack of the need to install a huge number of various programs on your personal computer. In order to search for information, you need access to the Internet. You can access your files from anywhere in the world. The use of cloud technologies in education allows educators to save material resources on the acquisition of equipment and the constant updating of software.
Comparison of cloud and traditional technologies
To begin with, modern educational pedagogical technologies are aimed at improving the quality of education. In connection with the development of inclusive education, teachers are forced to improve their computer literacy, and apply a variety of information and communication technologies for remote education of children. The traditional form uses classic email. First, the teacher downloads the studentâs letter, saves it, reads the information after starting this program. Cloud technology in education allows you to use browser mail. The teacher gets the opportunity to download attachments, for example, a studentâs test work, read letters on any computer with access to the World Wide Web. Pupils have long been actively using cloud technology in education. For example, they download music files, computer games to the repository. In addition, electronic books can be placed in the virtual library. At the moment, there are many servers where you can transfer data with good image quality. For example, the teacher places electronic textbooks and sends them to the student. When doing homework, the child can use the video, audio fragments available in the book. The child does not need to carry such electronic textbooks in a briefcase, to take them to the library after completing a course in this academic discipline.
Office Cloud Applications
There are currently quite a lot of them, so we will focus only on some of them. Most often you have to use electronic presentations, tables, a text editor. The disadvantage is that you have to transfer information from a work computer to your home PC. At the same time, you have to use devices to check students' work on the go, to forward letters. There is such a problem as computer hardware compatibility. In addition, the computer's hard drive is designed for a limited amount of memory. If you upload 3-4 quality films to it, it will quickly fill up, and for books, manuals, photographs, there simply will not be free space. There is one more problem - licensing of programs. In order to use them, you have to look for additional material resources. Cloud storage is optimal for collaborative projects. All members of the group get the opportunity to simultaneously search for information to make changes to the shared file located in the cloud storage.
Electronic diaries
The modern school no longer has the usual paper magazines that the teacher spent time filling out. Electronic diaries appeared that replaced their paper ancestors. Now the teacher can set current, quarterly, annual grades while at home. In addition, the studentâs parents can also view electronic diaries and receive notifications about the marks they have made and the teacher made comments to their beloved child. Logging into the teacherâs personal account is possible from any device, you just need to enter the password and login. Inside the virtual teacherâs room there are plenty of opportunities for sharing experiences, publishing their materials, and communicating with colleagues. There is also a studentâs personal account in which the child can see homework, current grades, classroom teacher and teacher announcements. If necessary, you can write a message to the child through feedback, in which to indicate the shortcomings, suggest a new homework, explain in detail the mark.
The use of "clouds" in distance education
Many educators believe that the use of âcloud technologiesâ is a labor-intensive process, and therefore try not to use them in their work, but their fears are absolutely in vain. For a distance educator, the use of Google documents is especially important. "Cloud computing" is quite accessible to ordinary users. The main concept of such technologies is the storage and processing of information by web servers, while the user receives the result using a web browser. Thanks to special web page control elements, the owner has the opportunity not only to enter some information, but also to edit it on his own personal computer. The reason for such a strange name ("cloud") is the designation of remote services in the form of a cloud on computer circuits .
What can a remote teacher do with the help of such technologies?
Using Googleâs documents, any distance educator can do the following:
- create class notes, edit them;
- work with tables;
- make bright and colorful electronic presentations for lessons;
- edit photos.
The teacher uses the provider's disk space to place copies of lessons and presentations.
Work algorithm
First you need to open the main page of the Google system, select the "more" link on the right side, and in the additional menu that appears, find the "documents" section. Once you are on your page, you can immediately start writing a text document.
You will see a special menu in which you can choose the font size, its slope, color, insert one or more photos or pictures. You can perform various actions with the help of which you get a text that will be convenient for the child to read:
- choose the color of the text,
- highlight the main points in italics or bold;
- Insert hyperlinks to Internet sources into the document;
- make an enumeration in the form of a list.
It is also convenient that you can print the created text document by printing it first. There are no difficulties in working with Google text documents. In the framework of joint work, together with the student, the teacher makes changes and additions to the material. You can create presentations for distance learning using the Google system using the âPresentationâ item in the additional menu.
An example of methodical development using cloud storage
Product theme: âPresentation on the selection of energy-saving lampsâ (Grade 8).
The purpose of creation: to expand the studentâs knowledge of the practical importance of the properties of electric current. To create this software product, you need to register on Google, use the Google presentation system.
The method of use of this product (intersubject application).
This product can be used to consolidate topic 6 âElectric current and its actionsâ (lesson - The use of electric energy in everyday life, nature and technology) according to the program Poryshkin A. V. Physics. 8th grade.
Google Chrome, which supports correct actions with the document service, has become a real find for remote teachers. First, the teacher is registered in the Google search engine, following all the instructions that appear on the computer monitor. Next, the first text document is created, which includes the text of the assignment on the subject for a distance student.
Conclusion
Cloud technologies, actively introduced into the educational process, make it easier for the teacher to work and increase the cognitive interest of schoolchildren. Informatization of education is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of new federal state standards, an opportunity for the childâs self-development. Thanks to ICT, a teacher can monitor how a child develops, and his individual educational path is carried out . Such technologies help to overcome geographical, social, political. Currently, cloud storage is actively used by remote teachers, but in a regular school they are still suspicious.